Adjustable rail clamp



R. D. GALLAGHER. ADJUSTABLE RAIL CLAMP.l msu rm. 3, 1922.

Dec. 19, 1922.

2 SHEETS--SHEET l.

Dec. 19, 1922.

y 1,439,087. n. D. GALLAGHER. ADJUSTABLE RAIL CLAMP.

FILED MAR. 3 |922. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Patented Dec l9, i922.,

ein`

parent nicnann :0. eaiiiiiisnne, or ciiiciieo, iiiiiinors. i

amusrrennn nain CLAMP.

Application filed March 3, i922. Serial No. 540,745.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, llioieiann` l). GAL- LAGHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county oit Coolrand State ot Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Rail Clamps, of 'Which the following is a specificatio f 1 My invention relates to rail clamps and particularly to clamps suitable for securing railroad rails and the liken to supports along ash-pits and drop-pits, on bridges, kand sirnilai structures.

rin object oit' the invention is to provider aufadjustable rail clamp arranged to afford clearance lor Wheel flanges.

Another object ot the invention is to providedv with. a plurality of surfaces `which. are

inclined to the horizontal and which intersect the plane of the base .of the track` rail in lines parallel to the rail base.`

A, still further object of the invention is to provide a rail clamp that inay be easily applied and removed, and ivliicliis designed l for the severest kind of service, andvvhich inay be economically manufactured.

A yet further object of` the invention is to improve rail clamps tI-or general successful commercial use.

The above recited andotlier objects ofthe invention will be apparent from theitollowing description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 4

Generally speaking, l carry out the `preferred embodiment oie the invention by providing a 'ail clamp having clainp tie plates arranged to `underlie rail and prfn'ided with shoulders `at or near each end oi the plate, rail braces adapted to engage the tie plate shoulders and to contact seine portion of the rail and Wedge blocks adapted to cooperate With the` braces for securing the rails lto 'the clamp tie plates, and means such as bolts tor operably effecting the cooperation or `the several elements. The braces and blocks have at least Vtivo similarly `inclined `surfaces which are parallel and in different planes.

In the drawings: l I I n f Figure" l is a perspective elevational view o' `the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is i oir' the clainptie plate employed;

Figure 3 is afperspective vieivot the pre* `eimedrail brace. Figure el; is a perspective view oi' the preferred ivedgefblock. l f y Figure 5 is aperspective` vievv'of al rail `clanip embodying inf/invention, and shown as applied to a` track rail'and a guardrail. Figure is `a perspective vieivuoi:` the perspective elevationalvieiv clamp applied toa `rail supportedlin a lrail f f trough such as used on some bridges-and the like, and employing suitable insulation i`or the tie plate. i f i Figure 'T is an elevational View ot'tlie iorin 'oli tie plate employed `in the arrangement oi Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a Vertical vieivl partially in lsect"on ot the arrangement oi'. lligure (5 'and `,lligijure 9 is 'a verticalk view partially in section oft' `a rail showing one .ott/hey means oi applying "a guard rail to a track rail carriedin a rail trough such as that illus` tinted in Figure 6; l lligure le() is a top plan vieu7 oi: the brace `shown in Figure 9. f l e le Y f y Theforin `ot clain} `disclosed in Figure l `is that suitable Jfor asli-i'iits and drop-pits and is employed for securing' rails alongside suclipits for purposes Well. understood.

"portion .o'i' the foundation l() is' .covered with an iiiiferted structural shape suchas a channel ll oirivliicli the rail A is carried. The rail clamp as applied in this 'torni lof thereof.v an opening through the body yas at l5" tor/the Areception ofy a spike,lbolt .or

other securing means. and another opening` stantially that of Athe contour of the iveb of therail, a bottoni 19, a'notclrtll and an upwardly inclined under surface 2l. The

'the `invention comprisesablamp tie-'plate having shoulders 13 and'flll, at each end brace has also two inclined surfaces 22 and 23 which are-in parallel planes inclined to the horizontal and cutting the plane of the base of the track rail in lines parallel to the rail base. An elongated opening 24 eX- tends through a portion of the brace, rlugs `25 and 26 are formed on thebrace for the purpose of cooperating vwith similarly arranged recesses on the wedge block for pre-- venting. turning ofthe same with respect to the brace. The wedge block is shown in Figurek 4 and has two inclined surfaces `27 and 248 also inclined to the horizontal and `cutting the plane of the rail base inlines a`rallel` to the rail base, an elongated centrally disposed vopening 29 and a foot' 30. The inclined surfaces 27 and 28, of the wedge blocks are provided with recesses 31 which u co-operate with projections or lugs 25 and `26 on the rail braces.

v bolt,`spike or o'thermember passing through the' opening 15 in the same and suitably embedded. in tl- 1e lfoundation' 10. rlhe frail A is then placed `on the plate and moved against they-inner shoulder 13. lin this form hooked shoulder 13.

the shoulder 13`is shown as hooked so as to overlie a part of the base of the rail to prevent tipping' ofthe same inservice. rlhel rail brace ofFigure 3 isplaced in position as shown in the drawings with the curved 'surface'A .181 against the web of the rail, and

is so positioned that the notch 2O will restv against the base of the rail opposite to the The wedge block shown inFigure it is then yapplied i over Athe `bolt vwiththe foot 30 against the inner surface of the shoulder 14 and with the two .inc'linedsurfaces 31 and28 in contactv withr the similarly inclined surfaces 22 and 23 of the brace. =Anut33 is then applied to the bolt and tightened; whereupon 'the several parts will functionl to force the rail brace against the rail in such manner as to secure thesame between the inner shoulder 13 and the rail brace 17. l

It will be observed that the inner side of the rail, that is the portion shown at the left in Figure 1, is free from projections,`

thus affording ample clearance for wheel flanges', androifering no projections .for

catching ashes or other dirt which might otherwiseaccumulate and cause derailment.

vBy reason of they double vinclined surface contact between' the wedge block and rail brace, lateralmovement of the rail may be accomplished foi` purposes of alignment by turning. nut 33 with suitable wrench.

the. form shown in Figure 5 the 'clamp tie In applying the Inl plate 34:V is secured byvmeans of spikes or other fastenings cooperating with notches 38 at the ends of the plate. This plate is provided with shoulders 36 and 37 at or near the ends of the saine, the distance between `the shoulders being sufficient to receive a track rail B and a guard rail Cto- `gether with the necessary clamps for retainofI these` members may be provided with a downwardly extending tongue 4:2 for projecting intoth'e space between the bases of the rails. Bolts 43 pass upwardly through suitable openings in the ties 4and tie plates 3a and the rail braces and wedge blocks. Nuts 44s when applied tothe ends of the bolts lock the wedge blocks, with respect to the rails and braces, s'o as to properlyl align the rails; by providing braces on each side of the rails lateral movement of the rails may be effected forpurposes of alignment without having to withdraw the spikes from the tie plates.

In the form of the clamp shown in Figure 6 a rail D is shown supported in a rail trough, which construction is employed in many instances on bridges7 atrough being provided for each rail of the' track way; In

vthis form the tie platea has shoulders 46' and 47 at rthe ends thereof for cooperation with the rail braces and blocks. F or se* curing the tie'plates to the bridge structure, bolts 19 are arranged to pass tl'irough suit ably disposed. openings in the bridge structure and correspondingly arri'i-ngedopenings in the tie plates. A. lower cross 'member' 51 may be' used to underlie the bridge" work for purposes of greater rigidity; "Where it is desirable to insulate tie plates on the bridge work, I providev a layer-'of insulating material 50 between the bridge work and the tie plate 435', and also another layer'53 between the lower arm 51 and the under side of the bridge work. Openings 4:8 in the bridge work through which the boltspass are preferably made larger than the bolts and in these openings ferr'ule's of insulatme,` material may be inserted as shown in Figure 8. ln thisv mannerthe tie pla-te and the rails are insulated completely from the bridge structure and any tendency of the rail to tip does not in any manner affect the insulal`` ing material employed. u y

The clamp used in this form comprises two plate permits alignment of the rail, as`

loosening one of' the bolts on one side and tightening the other will cause late v'al movement of the rail to pro-per position.`

ln Figure 9 I haveillustrated one manner` ot applying a guard rail y56 alongside of the track rail D in a rail trough such as that shown in Figure 6; the saine tie plate 45 with its several attaching` means is employed. Instead of making the rail brace as shown in Figure 3 of the vdrawings I4 make lit aslshown in Figure 9. The bracey includes shoulders 57 and 58 for contacting theunder side of the head and the top of the baserespectively, and is provided with a pair of flanges "59, which areseparated from `the main` portion ot the brace by a jcut"out portion 60. The guard rail 56 is in the itormiot an angle bar with one of the legs of the bar extending downwardly into the slot/60 in the rail brace.

At each side ot thebrace there are outstand--` ing lugs 6l having openings 62 therethrough so thatbolts 63 may fasten the guard rail in position on the rail brace. 1 Between the flanges 59 of the brace there are provided inclined surfaces 64 and 65 which are similar `in every respect to the taces22 andl of the other iigures of the drawings.

lt will be noted that the clamp of my invention is one which effects clamp engagement of rails on supports by means of members having' cooperating inclined surfaces' which. are in parallel but different planes. These members are so arranged with respect to the tie plates employed as to permit a limited lateral movement of the rails on the plates without having to remove the spikes or other fastening means used to fasten the tie plates to ties and the like.` A slight turn ot any of the nuts of the clamps of the invention will effect proper lateral movement ol the rails.

lVhile l have described more or less precisely the details'oi construction of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto as l contemplate changes in form and proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circum-` stances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit ot my invention.

l claim: j

l. A clamp for securing railsto ties comprising co-operating clamping members. some of said members having a plurality of surfaces inclined to the horizontal and arranged in parallel and different planes which surfaces co-operate to cause wedging actiony of certain of said members `'for clamping purposes.

2. A rail clamp, including in combination,

a clamp tie plate, a rail brace, a wedge block, and means passing `through said tie plate,

lbrace andbloclr for effecting cooperating clamping `engagement of said parts with a rail. i .j

3. A rail clamp, including in combination, a clamp tie plate, a rail brace, a wedge block, and means passing through the tie plate, brace andbloclr for eiiecting cooperating clamping engagement of said parts with a rail `and a support. l

4. An; adjustable railclamp, inchuliu` in j combinatioina member Yfor engaging; a rail .f

support, a rail bra ce,[ and awedge block, and a' bolt passing through said member, said block and said brace tor effecting clamping engage-ment of said parts with a rail.

;5`."An adjustable rail clamp, including in combination, a member for engagingY a rail support, a rail brace,and'a wedge block,

and `means passing through said iinernber,`

said brace andsaid block operable tor edecting clamping engagement or said parts with a rail; said latter means being arranged for causing' movement oit said parts for adjustablyi positioning the rail on its support.

`6. In a device oi" 'the class described, in combination. .a wedge block having two parallel inclined plane surfaces :for co-op erating with a` rail brace.

7. ln a device o'l the class described, in combination, a rail brace having a portion adaptedto contact a rail web and having two parallel inclined yfaces for cooperating with a wedge block.

8.'ln a device. of the class described, in combination, aclamp tie plate and a rail brace movable thereon, a wedge block for moving said brace, and means passing through` said brace and block tor'varying the position ot said block with respect to said brace.

9. A rail clamp, including in combination, a member adapted for engaging a rail support, a rail brace, and a wedge block, and means passing through said brace and cooperating with said block for causing clamping engagement oit said parts with the rail and the supporting member.

l0. A rail clamp comprising, in combina# ltion a plurality otrelatively movable mgmcombination,

adapted to underlie a rail, said plates having shoulders near eachr end thereof, rail braces adapted to be placed onandrnoved alongl said plates, said braces havingV a plurality of surfaces inclinedfto lthe horizontal and in paralleli planes, Wedge blocks havingsiinilarly inclined surfaces interposed be-r tween a plate shoulder` and a brace with the incline@` surfaces in contact With the similar surfaces of the brace, and means for actuating saidfbloclr's' for moving said braces into clamping engagement `with a rail.

13; Adjustable rail clainps, including in combination a plurality of tie plates adapted to underlie a rail, said plates having shoulders near each end thereof, rail braces.

adapted to be placed on and moved along said plates, said braces having a plurality of surfaces inclined to the horizontal and in parallel planes, Wedge blocks having siinilai-ly inclined surfaces interposed betweena plate shoulder and a brace Awith the inclined a plurality of tie platesr surfaces in Contact `with the, similar surfacesof the brace, `and nieansy for actuating said blocks to cause movement of said bracesto effect iateralfinovenent' of a rail.

i let. A rail clanip forsecuring rails to ties, inoluding'in combination, a plate having rshoulders near each end thereof, a rail biaceV rneinber having a port-ion adaptedL to rest against a `track railand another portion providedv with a plurality of inclined surfaceswhich are parallel; but in different planes `and lwhich"planes: intersect the plane 'of the tie plate in straight lines parallel to the track rail., andA a'wedge block having similarly' inclined surfacesfor fio-operating I withy the inclined ysur'faces of therbrace and portion 'adapted to abut one of the shoid# dei-son said-plate forurging the rail tiva'rd theother shoulder under certain conditions,

151A railY clainp, including ini/combination, a braceihaving pluralityofpar'allel surfaces which are in planes inclined to' the horizontal andvv'hich intersect the plane of the rail base in lines parallel to the rail base,k 'a Wedge block having siinilarly in. clined surfaces for .3o-operating' with the brace, and ineans for moving said block to cause engagement of Saidfbrace' With a rail for clamping purposes. c Signed at Cliicago,'lllno1s, thi`s2'3id day rof February, 1922.-A

Moriani) D. GLLAGHER. 

